The American Red Cross prepares year-round to respond to disasters – large and small. When Hurricane Ian struck the Florida coast on September 28th, initiating a massive disaster relief response, over 2,800 trained Red Cross disaster workers were ready and deployed to the state to begin the months-long recovery efforts.
Financial support from generous donors, along with the assistance of community partners, allowed the Red Cross to provide much-needed resources such as warm meals and a safe place to stay, along with health and mental health support. Within the first month after the disaster, over one million meals and snacks were served to the residents in the hardest-hit areas. Since the disaster operations began, more than 200,000 damage assessments of homes have been completed, and over 30,000 households have been provided with comfort and cleanup kits.
Despite these efforts, public dump sites throughout the affected areas tell stories of losses people still face. These piles of debris were once the contents of someone's home. Many items can be replaced, but the loss isn't limited to physical possessions. Photo albums full of precious family memories and children's stuffed animals are examples of sentimental tokens lying among roof shingles and downed, brittle palm trees. Some things cannot be replaced, but hope and stability can be renewed.
Among the 2,800 Red Cross responders on the ground, 300 are trained to support and provide health care and mental health services, and spiritual care to those affected.
"Sometimes, it's just about being there," said Red Cross Spiritual Care Manager Richard McCorry. He explained that sometimes there are not always words that can be used or easy solutions to be provided.
Red Cross presence is not only necessary for healing the affected communities, but it's also essential within the Red Cross family.
Golden angels embossed with the nationally recognized Red Cross symbol fill McCorry's pockets. He delights in handing these Red Cross pins out to fellow volunteers he meets on the job. A recipient of one myself, I have experienced the joy the tiny pin can bring. This feeling is so contagious volunteers often seek out McCorry hoping to receive their own angel.
Placing a second angel on the Red Cross lanyard around my neck, McCorry tasked me with passing one of them on to "somebody else who needs it"—somebody who also delights in having a constant reminder that someone was here, someone listened, and someone cared. Somebody who continues to carry out their work, restoring hope and stability to a disaster-ravaged community.
American Red Cross relief is free to anyone with disaster-caused needs, thanks to the generosity of the American people. To become a trained disaster volunteer, go to redcross.org/volunteer or call 1-800-REDCROSS.
Written by Heather Anderson, American Red Cross Public Affairs